Motor controller



Aug. 21, 1928.

F. J. RUSSELL moron CONTROLLER Filed June 1, 1926 n A AV Y Raw Lu X J, L ln/ w 1 3 v A Y I Ran vmw 5 "LJ H.

INVENTOR.

5mm BY .w w M 3 Z nmw u Y D t H A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE.

FRANK J. RUSSELL, 01E WAUWATOSA, WZSCONSIN, ASSiGN'OR TO THE CUTLER-HAM- KER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

Application filed. June 1,

' "This invention relates to controllers for electric motors, although certain features thereof may be advantageously employed in other relations.

The invention is particularly applicableto controllers for direct current motors wherein inductive means is employed to effect arrest of the operation of the controller in difierent stages thereof.

The patent to Clarence T. Evans, No. 1,479,033, of January 1, 19241, discloses a controller of this character including accelerating switches having restraining win dings and one or more inductors for supplying transient currents to the restraining windings ofsaid switches to delay operation thereof. The inductor windings are connected in series with the motor and due to this fact it is necessary to vary the current carrying capacity of such windings to suit the size of the controlled motor.

The present invention has among its objects to provide a controller of the aforesaid character employing a standard inductor for all sizes of motors of the same voltage.

Another object is to minimize the amount of active iron and copper required in the inductor for a given timing of the controller.

Another object is to provide a controller of the aforesaid character wherein an inductor of standard overall dimensions may be em ployed torall sizes of motors regardless of the voltage thereof.

Another object is to provide a controller of the aforesaid character employing a standard inductor capable of being connected in various ways in themotor circuit to provide for variation in the delay of closure ofthe accelerating switches.

Another object is to provide a reversing controller. of the aforesaid character which provides a longer delay in closure of the first accelerating switch upon plugging oi the inotor than upon starting of the motor from rest.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing diagrammati (ally illustrates certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiments illustrated may be modified in certain respects 1926. serial nefnaw.

without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing: r Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates one form of controller embodying the invention; Fig.2 is a so-called across-the-line diagram of certain of the circuit connections-illustrated in Fig. 1; and f Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a reversing controller embodying a modification of the controller shown in Fig. l. v I

Referring to Fig. 1, the controller is employed in connection with a direct current motor having an. armature A and Ya series field winding F, it being understood that the motor may be of any other preferred type. The controller includes an electroresponsive main switch 1 for connecting the motor across lines L L and electro-responsive accelerating switches 2,3, i and 5 for controlling starting resistances 11 ,11 R and R, respect'ively, in the motor circuit. Each of the accelerating switches is of the two magnet type,.the same being provided with a shunt operating winding X and a restraining winding Y.. A manually operated switch 6- is provided for connecting the operating winding of main switch 1 across lines L -L and upon response of said main switch, auxiliary contacts 1 associatedtherewit'h connect the shunt operating windings X of the several accelerating switches in parallel across said lines. Accordingly, all of the acceleratingswitches tend to respond upon completion of their energlzmg circults, but each of said swltches has its restraining .wlnding normally energized to prevent response thereof."

More specifically, the restraining windings Y of the resistance control switches 2, 8, 4 and 5 areassociated with coils 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively, of an inductor I, all of said coils being mounted upon a core member 11. As best shown .in Fig. 2, the restraining winding Y of switch 2 is permanently conn acted across the terminals of coil 7, and also, as shown in this figure, inductor coils 8, 9 and '10 are each connected in series with their associated re straining windings Y and in shunt across the resistances R R and B, respectively. n

Thus, upon closure of switch 1 the ino-tor is connected across lines L and L through across the terminals of coil 10.

resistance sections R R R and R and the inductor coils 8, 9 and 10 are energized by currents which are a function of the voltage drop across resistance sections R, R and R respectively. As indicated by arrows in Fig. 2, coils 8, 9 and 10 are arranged so that their magnetomotive forces are additive in the core 11 and said currents therefore act cumulatively to induce a transient current in coil 7. The induced current in coil 7 passes through the restraining winding Y of accelerating switch 2 to hold said switch in open position and after a temporary period the induced current in said coil drops to a given value to permit closure of said switch for exclusion of resistance section R Immediately upon exclusion of resistance section R the restraining winding Y of switch 3 is short-circuited with coil 8, and said coil then acts by self-induction to maintain said restraining winding energized tor a temporary period to delay closure of said switch. However, it should be noted that such period is influenced. by the stored energy in the electromagnetic circuit of inductor I at thetime of closure of switch 2 and is also influenced to some extent by the inductive effect of coils 9 and 10 on coil 8 which results from the changing current in the motor circuit. Upon exclusion of resistance section R restraining winding Y of switch at is shortcircuited with inductor coil 9 whereby said inductor coil acts by self induction to supply a transient current to saidrestraining winding to delay closure of switch 4. Such delay is influenced by the stored energy in the electromagnetic circuit of inductor I at the time of closure of switch 7 and is also influenced to some extent by the inductiveeffect t coil 10 on coil 9 which results from the changing current in the motor circuit. Closure of switch 4 connects the restraining winding Y of switch Coil then acts by self induction .to supply atransient current to the restraining winding Y of switch 9Lto delay closure of said switch for a period'determined by the stored energy'in the electromagnetic circuit of inductor I at the time of closure of switch 4. V g

The aforedescribed controller thus provides time limit control which is influenced to some extent by surges in the motor current resulting from exclusion of the accelerating resistances. However, the extent to which the controller is influencedby surges'in the motor currentis dependent upon the design of inductor I. For example, if the inductor is designed so that the core thereof becomes substantially saturated under light starting currents, heavy surges in the motorcurrent will produce substantially no variation inthe timing of the controller. On the other hand, if the core of the inductor is designed so as to remain unsaturated under heavy starting currents, the timing of the controller will be intain the desired timing without varying the overall dimensions of the inductor.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the same illustrates a modification of the controller shown in Fig. 1 wherein the connections for inductor coil 9 are reversed so that the magnetomotive force of such coil acts in opposition to the magneto motive force of coils 8 and 10. hen the motor is connected across lines L and L? through resistance sections R to R inclusive, the inductor coils 8, 9 and 10 are energized by currents which are a function of the voltage drop across resistance sections R R and R respectively. Howe er, with the connections of coil 9 reversed the induced current in coil 7 is a function of the difference between the magnetomotive torce of coil 9 and coils Sand 10. The induced current in coil 7 passes through the restraining winding Y of switch 2 to hold said switch in open position, and after a temporary period the induced current in said coil drops to a given value to permit closure of said switch for exclusion of re sistance R Upon closure of accelerating switch 2 inductor coil 8 is short-circuited.

through itsassociated restraining winding Y to delay closure of switch. 3. However, it

should be noted that it resistance R is larger than resistance R as is the usual practice,the voltage across inductor coil 9 is higher than the voltage across inductor coil 10 whereby coil 9 serves to reverse the flux in the core member'll upon closure of switch 2. Upon closure of switch 3, winding 9 is short-circuited through its associated restraining winding Y to delay closure of switch 4, and the magnetomotive torce oi coil 10 then acts to again reverse the flux in the core 11 of inductor I. Upon closure of switch 4: winding 10 is short-circuited through its associated restraining winding to delay closure of switch 5.

In connection with 3, it should be noted that the aforedescribed reversal of the flux in core 11 tends to increase the time element incident to response of switches 2. 3 and 4. In other words. it is possible with an inductor of a given size to obtain a longer delay in closure of the accelerating switches with the controller shown in Fi 3 than is obtained with the controller shown in 1.

' If desired, the controller may be provided with a master switch 15 for controlling the main switch 1 and also for controlling two sets of reversing switches 1617 and 181'9. The master switch as shown comprises contacts 20 to 24:, inclusive, and two sets of cooperating movable contacts, one set including contacts 20, 21, 22 and24 and the other set including contacts 20*, 21 23" and 24". Also, the reversing switches 17 and 19 are provided with normally open auxiliary contacts 17 and 19 for controlling the energizing circuit of the shunt operating windings X of accelerating switchesQ to v5, inclusive.

Upon movement of the master switch 15 towards the right switch 1 is energized through the medium of contacts 20, 20 21* and 21, while reversing switches .16 and 17 are energized through the medium of contacts 20, 20, 22' and 22. Also, upon closure of reversing switch 17 all of the restraining windings X of switches 2 to 5, inclusive, are energized t-hroughthe medium of contacts 20,

, 20 24 and 24 and the auxiliary contacts 17 associated with switch 17; VVit-h the master switch 115 in its left hand position, main switch 1 is energized through the medium of contacts 20, 2-0", '21 andQl, while reversing switches 18 and 19 are energized through the medium of contacts 20, 20 23 and 23. Also, upon closure of reversing switch 19 the restraining windings X of switches 2 to 5, inclusive, are energized through the medium of contacts 20, 20 124", 24 and the auxiliary contacts 19 associated with reversing switch 19.

Although two specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to :such embodiments. The number of accelerating steps can be increased or decreased if desired, and transient effects of different magnitude and duration may be obtained by working the inductor on various portions of the saturation curve thereof. For example, such variations in the transient effects may be produced by arranging the inductor coils so that the magnetomotive forces thereoi are in relatively different directions than those shown in the drawing, and such variations may also be obtained by connecting the coils in shunt with other parts of the motor circuit.

It will be understood that while in the foregoing description the resistance of the inductor coils and lockout coils has been neglected the resistance thereofis a factor to be considered in practice. Also it will be understood thatthe resistance of such coils maybe varied to afford any desired percentage of accelerating resistance but. that interchangeability of the coils will be sacrificed unless the resistance of the coils is kept within certain limits.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isi I 1. In a motor controller, in combination, a plurality of starting rcsi stances for the motor to be excluded from circuitsequentially, a

plurality of switches each controlling one ofdependent upon prior operation of its precede -1ng switch and means to supply a transient current to the restraining coil of each switch to delay ope ation thereof, said means comprising a plurahty of wlndingsarranged 111 a mutually inductive relation andeach connected in series with the restralnmg coll 0t one of saldswitches. i

2. In a motor controller, in combination, :a

plurality of resistances for inclusion in series with the motor, anda plurality of switches to be operated sequentially to short-circuit said resistances progressively, said switches having shunt operating windings and each except the first having a restraining win-ding paralleling the resistance to be short-'c-ircuited by the next preceding switch, and a coilconnected in series with the restraining coil'ot each. of certain of said switches, said coils being arranged in a mutually inductive relatlon.

3. The combinat on w th an electric motor having a resistor associated therewith, ot' a plurality of switches for controlling said resistor, each of said switches having a restrain ing coil associated therewith and an inductor having a plurality of windings each permanently' connected across different points of said reslstor, each of said wmdmgs being connected in series with the restraining coil of one of said switches and being adapted to supply a transient current to its associated restraining coil upon exclusion of a given portion of said resistor trom the motor cir C'uit.

4. In a motor controller, in combination, resistance varying means and electrorespon- 'sive means to etl'ect arrest-0t the action of the former means in different stages thereof,

said electroresponsive means including an inductive device havlng a' plural ty of COllS arranged in-a mutually inductive relation and normally connected in series with the motorarmatureand in parallel with dillerent parts of themotor circuit to render said means re-- sponsive to a varying current with an inherent-ly transientefiect,

5. In a motor controller, in combination, accelerating means and means having aninher'ently transient eiiect to arrest the accelerating pperation of the'tormer means in difterent stages thereof subject to control by 'th-e electrical condition of the motor circuit, the second mentioned means including a plurality of windings arranged in [a mutually inductive relation and each connected in shunt across different parts of the motor circuit.

'6. In a motor controllerthecombination with accelerating switches to'be operatedin sequence, said switches having individual 1'c-' straining coils, of windings arranged .inja

mutually inductive relation to supply tranthe latter means including windings arranged in a mutually inductive relation and connected in shunt across different parts of the motor circuit, and commutatable connections therefor to cause each winding to act'by induction in successive stages of acceleration to arrest the accelerating operation.

8. The combination with an electric motor I having a resistor associated therewith, of a plurality of switches for controlling said resistor, each of said switches having a restraining coil associated therewith which is con nected across a portion of said resistor and an inductive winding connected in series with the restraining coil of each of said switches, said inductive windings being arranged in a mutually inductive relation, and certain of said windings being arranged so that the magnetomotive force thereof opposes the magnetomotive force of other of said windings. I

9. The combination with .an electric motor having a resistor associated therewith, of a plurality of electroresponsive switches for controlling said resistor, each of said switches having a restraining winding associated therewith which is connected in shunt witha portion of said resistor and an inductor having a plurality of like coils arranged in a mutually inductive relation and each connected in series with the restraining winding of one of said switches.

10. In a motor controller, in combination, accelerating means and means to arrest for temporary periods the accelerating action of the former means in different stages thereof, the latter means including an inductor having a core member and a plurality of windings mounted thereon, said windings being connected in shunt across different parts of the motor circuit, and being arranged so that the magnetomotive forces thereof efl'ect reversal of the flux in said core member in each stage of acceleration.

11. In a motor controller, in combination, accelerating means and means to arrest for temporary periods the accelerating action of the former means in different stages thereof,

the latter means including an inductor having a core member and a plurality of wind ings mounted on said core member and connected in shunt across different parts of the motor circuit, said windings being arranged ing a resistor, of means for excluding said resistor from said circuit and electroresponsive means to effect arrest of the action of the former means in different stages thereof, said electroresponsive means including an inductive device having a plurality of coils arranged in a mutually inductive relation and permanently connected in shunt across different parts of said resistor to render said electroresponsive means responsive to varying current with an inherently transient effect.

13. The combination with a motor and a supply circuit therefor, of means for establishing reverse power connections for the motor from said supply circuit, a plurality of accelerating switches operable sequentially, said switches having individual restraina ing coils and an inductor for supplying said restraining oils with inherently transient currents to delay operation of said switches, said inductor including a plurality of wind ings each connected across different points of the motor circuit, the inductor coil associated with the first accelerating switch providing for differentiation of the delay in closure of said switch upon starting of the motor from rest and upon plugging thereof.

14.. The combination with an electric motor, of'at least three accelerating units therefor affording starting resistances for the motor, said units each including an electroresponsive switclroperative to accelerate the motor and restraining means for saidswitch comprising an inductor coil, the inductor coils of said units being normally in series with said motor and being arranged in a mutuallv inductive relation.

15. The combination with an electric motor, of accelerating units therefor affording starting resistances for the motor, said units each including an electroresponsive switch operative to accelerate the motor and restraining means for such switch comprising an inductor coil. the inductor coils of said units being in series with one another andwith said motor and being arranged in a mutually inductive relation.

16. The combination with an electric motor, ofaccelerating units therefor affording starting resistances for the motor. said units each including an electroresponsive switch operative to accelerate the motor, and restraining means for such switch comprising a restraining winding and an inductor winding, the inductor windings of said units being in series with one another and with said motor and being arranged in a mutually inductive relation, and the restraining windings of said units being respectively subjected to influence by different inductor windings.

17. The combination with an electric m0- tor, of a plurality of electroresponsive switches, each having a restraining winding associated therewith, means including inductor windings providing a plurality of steps of starting resistance for said motor, said inductor windings being arranged in a mutually inductive relation and being in series. with one another and with said restraining wmdmgs.

18. The combination with an electric motor, of a starting resistance therefor, a plurality of switches for excluding said resistance in steps, each of said switches having a restraining coil associated therewith, and an inductor having a plurality of windings, said inductor windings and said restraining windings being connected in series in the motor circuit, and each of said inductor windings and one of said restraining windings being series connected and connected in shunt across given points in the motor circuit.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANK J. RUSSELL. 

